The Penn's Grove record., 1887-04-30

al ~ VI hhAg SAeAAAh1 11h tS1
to work studiously, firing remarks all
the while like stray shots into the con-
v~ersation, and paying attention, to what
everyone was saying.
81 would do 1t in another 10 If you
would let me CO." he said; "but as you
will not exile me-you are too good
shall be free and at your service in one
half hour"
Mr.. Marsh carried on the talk about
stories from the point where his daugh-
ter had left it.
"Ahl'' said that merry little man, the
| kindly host, "my Robin is not what l
+ was long ago. ! set beans to grow a
stalk like the famous Jack; and even
now, if l will read a story L like to be-
lieve it. Once in the six months, may
be, / get hold of one worth reading, and
then all the men and women l have met
in it live for evermore. What's the
good of a story that a fellow feels is a
hoax and a yarn2 Now there's that
book that every one is talking OF,
'Brightley Court that girl Ruth Moss
is somewhere in the world; she is living
like a violet in a wood, and the air is
better for her presence-happier-and
that's all one knows. Let US love much
because life is short; let us do much
because we love muehl' That girl is
alive for me now almost as much as
Nelly there and my Mary. She marries
no one in the novel; why, there isn't a
fellow l ever met fit to put his hand
under her foot to send her up to the
saddle. l beg your pardon, Harry, but
you won't mind. don't think you are
good enough for Ruth either"
'tAll right, sirl Shan't break my
heart for that" said Sir Harry. "1'd
rather have a real live girl than a
dream, though that is a very true char
acter-very real-veryl In fact Ruth
Moss reminded me of somebody | have
met. Have you read 'Brightley Court
mantle.
"Ahl you should read thatln cried
both the men in duet-Mary's father
and Sir Harry Give.
"Who is it by?n said the voice of NJ
Gobblecock.
"Hyacmth Grey"
Mr.. Gobblecock with a grunt, return
ed to his papers.
"a lady, l should think" said the
young baronet.
"Ahl Pm sure of it. Who else could
have told us about Ruth's dresses and
the color of her hair? Yet there's an
amazing amount of knowledge of horses
in that book, and of barrack life" said
Mr.. Marsh. land Hyacinth Grey had
one novel about London city life, and
another about yachting"
The voice of Gobblecock interrupted.
Sin my time at school Hyacinthus was
a Greek boy, but these ladies that write
novels don't trouble their heads about
classical accuracy"
Soon he wrote a long letter, sent it to
the post, folded his newspapers into the
black bag, and came with a thousand
more apologies, and made up for his
absence by talking with the yolubllity
of a dozen. His stories made everybody
LAUGH; his g%entleness with the girls
made up for his good looks; his talk of
foreign cities made them wonder how
(as our friends beyond the channel
would say he was most at home when
| he was abroad. In a word Gobblecock
was a pleasant man, good company
! success. Even Hubert came back,
heart-aches and all, and joined the Cir
| Gle. And then the candles cleaned
round the drawing-room, and Nelly
looked her prettiest, and Mary Marsh
was her sweetest, and Robin was his
noisiest. Harry Give was pleased with
himself and all the world; Hubert was
only heard once overheard by Nelly to
murmur to his sister that he wished
| Harry was ''far enough;" Mr.. Marsh
made a happy paterfamilias, and felt
like a boy again when he detected Harry
| Give waiting on Nelly, and poor HUI
bert getting angry. In short it was a
pleasant family circle, and Gobblecock
| had become a favorite with everybody,
| except little Robin, whose mind had
been disturbed about B~luebeard.
AT Darkleigh Court the ladies had
always an hour to themselves, while the
men finished the late evening in the
| smoking-room or at the billiard-table.
Tonight Nelly took up the book that
was the talk of the season, and read a
few chapters while Mary worked.
Presently Mr.. Marsh came in. $50
glad you are reading that, Nellyl 1t is
beauty and poetry from cover to cover,
no matter what it talks about-the
hunting field, or the camp, or the bar
backyard, or anything
Mary did not look up from her work,
but she said gently" Hyacinth Grey's
books are all delightful. He must be a
man with a noble mind"
MI. Marsh paced up and down the
room thinking; his thoughts had darted
off to a subject nearer his heart.
81 wonder what that boy of mine has
on his mind?n he said. she stumps
about over my head, up and down, up
and down, till 2 and 3 in the morning.
I wish you would find out what is
troubling him, Mary. Poor Hubert! 1t
worries me to think he has some trouble
and won't tell me. Find out, if you
cam
.sIIe has a little sitting-room too in
the west tower, has not he?" Nelly
asked, when Mr.. Marsh was gone.
ssThe light is burning there till l every
night. / have looked out and seen the
bright window, and wondered"
The light burned in the upper window
of the west tower that night till the
clock struck /. Afterwards Hubert
walked up and down in the room over
his fathers till half-past.
ssHe must have some great trouble on
his mind,n thought Nelly, peeping from
under the corner of her window-blind
and seeing the lonely light.
sIIe is like the Polar bear in the 700
logical gardensln thought his sleepless
father, listening to the footsteps for half
the night.
On the next evening Hubert had car
ried off .'Brightley Court'' to that snug
little sitting-room of his in the tower,
Mary Marsh asked Nelly to run up for
it, as her brother, and her father, and
the great Mr.. Gobblecock were all far
away at billiards.
Nelly, in IIubert's own dominions,
DELAYED to look around her before she
took the open volume from the table.
All at once footsteps, and Hubert's
voice, and the voice OF the dread Cob
blecock were close outside the door.
Seized by a silly fear of being found,
she thought of Argentina in the last
romance and, resolved to be a heroine
for once in her life, she did just what
she should not have done, she stepped
behind a screen. True, she might have
stepped out at once bravely and made a
Joke of it; but by hesitation l. was lost.
Should abe faint. or ghould she cough.